Bombing game



Nov. 28, 1950 F. J. BULA 2,531,508

BOMBING GAME Filed Aug. 51, 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. lbw/r cl BULA MZQ/wal A TTOFJVIFK Nov. 28, 1950 F. J. BULA 2,531,608

BOMBING GAME Filed Aug. 31, 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 5Q mMKclBvL'A,

Nov. 28, 1950 F. J. BULA I 2,531,608

BOMBING GAME Filed Aug. 31, 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 FHAN/(cl 131m Nov. 28, 1950 F. J. BULA 2,531,608

' BOMBING GAME Filed Aug. 31, 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VEN TOR. m d EULA,

Nov. 28, 1950 F. J. BULA 2,531,608

BOMBING GAME Filed Aug. 31, 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 21 INVENTOR. Ry. Z Fmmrdf EULA,

Q/aio' ATTOFNEK Patented Nov. 28, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE eoMnmG GAME Frank J. eta, Speedway City, Ind. Application August 31, weasel-is; No. 694,329

13 Claims. (01. 273-4312) The present invention relates to a bombin game, and'more particularly to a device which may preferably be coin" controlled, and which will simulate'theioperation of. bombing from an airplane. More specifically, I provide a device which includes a ,pair of handles, a sighting device under the control of said handles, a moving target visible through said sighting device, means for simulating the fall of bombs'through the air, means under the control ofthe player for activating the "last-named means, and means effective, upon activation of such meansat precisely the proper instant; to simulate "the explosion of bombs. i

A major feature of the invention resides in the conceptof'prdviding an unusually effective optical illusion simulating the falling of bombs through the air. My sightingdevice comprises a tubular structure, visually open at its opposite ends, one end thereof being visually accessible to a player and the other end thereof being located within a substantially closed cabinetadjacent a moving target device. It is 'a primar object of the invention to provide means for causing a 12111- rality of spots of light to appear, withinthe sighting device, when the activating means is a'cti1 ated, and'to cause said spots of'light to move from points nearer the first-named end of the sighting device toward points morareinot'e from said end, said spots of light following paths peripherally spaced from each other, and" being locatedfthroughout their movement through the sighting device, atdififer'ent distances from the first-named end or the sighting device. A further object of the invention is to providemeans for separately simulating the explosion of bombs at the instant of arrival ofeach spotof light at that point in its path most remote from the first named end of the sighting. device.

Further objects of the invention include the provision of means connecting two player-accessible handles with the sighting device in such fashion that'oscillation of one .ofsaidhahdles in 'asingle plane will" cause "swinging movement or said sighting device substantially in' a plane parallel to said single plane, whileoscillationof the other handle in a plane parallel tosaitf single plane will cause swinging movemntof 'saidsighting device substantially ma; plane perpendicular to said single'plane; the provision of a plurality of series'o'f targets uponaa moving. target device. together with means -for elec'trica-lh operatively associating saidsighting -clevice selectivel with an on f d-- e s ta ts;1 t eprp i ,a novel form ofw-commut tor: means; 01; lectri mes-w cally associating the sighting device with the individual target device; and the provisionofa plurality of kinds of means for producing the optical illusion above mentioned. ,Further objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds,

. To the accomplishment of the above and. related objects, my invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that change maybe made in the specific construction illustrated and described; solong' as the scope f the appended claims is not violated.

Fig. 1. is a perspective view of a game machine constructed in accordance with the present, in,-

vention; i i 1 y Fig. 2 is anenlarged transverse section show ing the operative parts of one embodiment oim-y invention; i n

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional View, showing the linkage connecting the control handles with the sightingdevice; s

i Fig. l is a further enlarged, fragmental sectional View, takenin planes substantiall at right angles to the planeof Fig. 2, and illustrating certain details of the control mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a transverse section, upon a further enlarged scale, and taken substantially uponythe line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6. isan elevationalview of a commutator and associated parts, constructed in accordance with my invention; i i

,Fig. '7 is a schematic wiring diagramof one embodiment of my invention; i 3 1 a i Fig. 8 is a schematic wiring diagram of amodified form of my invention; i i

Fig. 9,.is a longitudinal sectional view, through a: modified means for simulating the fall of bombs;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged transverse section taken substantially onthe line leiil of Fig. 9; and 3 1 ,Fig. 11 is I an enlarged 'fragm'ental elevation of commutator means incorporated in the embodiment of Figs-8 to 10.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, it willbe-seen that I-have illustrated acabinetrlfl provided with the; usual coinreceivingslide "2| and an upstandingsupplemental housing 22 upon thefor-ward wall of-which are provided a shot in ,dicatingdial 123 and ahitgindicating, dial 24. The front wpanel of the housing 22-Imay be, suitably decorated to represent what a bombardierwould see when Sitting-at his station: The; backs ofthe headset a -pilot and a-copilot standard-instrument board dials, and a section of a windshield may be suitably painted upon such panel. In the present drawings, I have indicated only an illustration of a part of an airplane windshield.

A supplemental housing 25 represents the external appearance of any standard form of bomb sight, and is provided with a transparent pane 26 through which the player peers into the interior of the machine. Two control handles 21 and 28, representing the handles for controlling a standard bomb sight, are positioned at opposite sides of the bomb sight housing 25, in such a location as to be readily and comfortably grasped by the two hands of the player as he peers through the pane 26. The handle 21 carries a button 29 and the handle 28 carries a button 30, for purposes which will appear as the description proceeds.

Within the housing 25 (see Fig. 2) is suitably supported a ring 3| carrying a pair of aligned, oppositely positioned journal pins 33 which support a concentric ring 32 somewhat smaller than the ring 3|. Obviously, the ring 32 is oscillable about the axis of the pins 33. A third ring 34, somewhat smaller than the ring 32, is supported therewithin upon a pair of aligned journal pins 35 (see Fig. 4), whose common axis is located in the same plane with the axis of the pins 33, but at right angles thereto, the ring 35 being oscillable about the axis of the pins 35. Suitably fixedly supported by the ring 34 is a sighting tube 36. It will be clear that the above described structure provides a universa1 mounting for the sighting tube 36. Preferably a rubber mat 31, snugly engaging the tube 36, overrides the mounting assembly for said tube to prevent the escape of light through the interstices between the described rings.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the upper end of the tube 36, which is positioned to be visually accessible to the player, may carry a transparent disc 38 for physically, but not visually, closing said upper end of said tube, against dust, dirt, and the like. Positioned within the tube, at any suitable point in its length, is a concavo-convex lens 39 (Fig. 4) of the type which creates an illusion of distance or remoteness. That portion of the interior wall of the tube beyond the lens 39 comprises a translucent screen 40. The character of said screen is such that a light beam directed thereupon from its external surface will produce a visible illuminated area on its internal surface, and the construction of the sighting device is such that any such illuminated area will be visible to the player looking into the upper end of said tube 36.

The lower end of the sighting device, positioned within the cabinet, is likewise visually open, but may preferably be physically closed by a transparent member, or the like, and a pair of cross hairs, indicated at 36 in Fig. will preferably be provided somewhere in the sighting device.

The external wall of the tube 36 is formed with a plurality of longitudinally extending, peripherally spaced, slots or windows 4| separated by opaque areas, in the region of the screen 40.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to '7, the region of the tube 36 in which said slots are formed is enclosed by a box 42 in which are mounted a plurality of light bulbs 43, which will preferably be red in color.

Sleeved on that portion of the sighting tube 36 in which are formed the windows 4! is a mask 44, mounted for rotation about the axis of said tube and formed with a spirally arranged slot or window having a peripheral extent of approximately 360 degrees reduced by approximately the peripheral distance between those slots 4| at the two extremes of the series of slots, and an axial extent substantially equal to the length of the slots 4|. It will be clear that, if the mask 44 is rotated in the proper direction, the upper end of said slot 45 will come successively into registry with the separate slots 4|, and that the point of registry of the slot 45 with each slot 4| will move downwardly as the mask rotates. Thus, when the lights 43 are energized, while the mask 44 rotates, a spot of light will appear on the screen 40 at the point of current registration of the slot 45 with each slot 4|, and those points of light will move downwardly through the tube at different levels, from the top of each slot 4| to the bottom of each said slot.

The mask 44 carries a gear 46 driven in a manner later to be described.

Mounted for rotation within the cabinet 20 and beneath the sighting tube 36 is a target device or drum 41 carrying a plurality of series of target representations, the units of each series being spaced peripherally of the drum, and the various series being spaced axially of the drum. Thus the series 48 is disposed vertically beneath the point of support of said tube, while the series 49 is displaced to the right and the series 50 is displaced to the left, as viewed in Fig. 2.

In an opening 5| in the top of the cabinet 20 paced somewhat to the right of the housing 25, is mounted a bracket 52 upon when the lever 21 is pivotally mounted at a point intermediate the ends of said lever. A link 53 is pivotally connected at 54 to the depending arm of said lever 21; and the other end of said link is com nected, through a universal joint 55, with one arm of a lever 56 pivotally mounted intermediate its ends upon a suitable journal 51. The lever 56 is mounted to oscillate in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of oscillation of the lever 21. The other arm of said lever 56 is connected, through a universal joint 58, with a link 59, said link 59 being connected to the tube 36 through a universal joint 60. It will be readily apparent that oscillation of the lever 21 will result in oscillation of the tube 36 injthe same general direction and substantially; in a plane parallel to the plane of oscillationof the lever 21. An extension 6| on the last mentioned arm of the lever 56 may preferably be positioned to engage a pair of rubber bumpers 62, 62 suitably mounted to cushion movement of the tube 36 near the ends of its throw;

In a suitable opening 63 on the other'side of the housing 25 is provided a bracket 64 upon which the lever 28 is pivotally mounted, intermediate its ends, for oscillation ina plane sub-v stantially parallel to the planeof oscillation of the lever 21. One end of a link 65 is pivotally connected at 66 to the depending arm of said lever 28, and the other end of said link is connected, through a universal joint 61, with one arm 68 of a bell crank lever 69 pivotally mounted at 1|] for oscillation in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of oscillation of the lever 28. The other arm 1| of said lever 69 is connected, through a universal joint 12, with one end of a link 13 whose opposite end is connected, through a universal joint 14, with the tube 36. It will be clear that because of the direction-changing eifect of the lever 69, oscillapositioned to cooperate with a pair of rubber 2+- bumpers it, It serving the same function performed by the bumpers 62, 62.

Thus, movement of the lever 21 away from the operator will swing the lower end of the sighting tube 36 away from the operator; while movement of the lever 28 away from the operator will move the inner end of tube 33 toward the operators left.

An electric motor 11, when energized, will drive the shaft I8 upon which the drum 41 is mounted. I

Moving with said shaft and drum is a commutator disc '59 provided, for each target, with a pair of buttons (Fig. 7) 39 and BI electrically connected by a wire 82; for each target 50 with a pair of buttons 83 and 94 electrically connected by a wire 85; and for each target 48 with a pair of buttons 89 and 8! electrically connected by a wire 88. Mounted for oscillation aboutthe axis of the shaft I8, but loose on said shaft, is a feeler arm 89 carrying fingers 99, 9I, 92 and 93. The finger so is positioned for selective engagement with any one of the buttons 89, 83 and 8 5; the finger 9! is positioned for engagement with the button 84; the finger 92 is posi tioned for engagement with the button 81; and the finger 93 is positioned for engagement with the button BI. It is to be understood that there are as many button pairs on the commutator I9 as there are targets on the drum 4?.

A link 94 has one end connected to the de pending arm of the lever 21, at 95, and has its other end connected, at 96, to one arm of a lever 91 (Fig. 4) pivoted intermediate its ends at 98 for oscillation in a plane parallel to the plane of oscillation of the lever 21. The other arm of said lever 9! is pivotally connected at 99 to one end of a link I99 whose opposite end is pivoted at Illl to the feeler arm 89. The parts are so proportioned and dimensioned that, when the lower end of the tube is properly positioned with respect to one of the targets lie, for instance, at the instant when one of the light spots above mentioned reaches the lower end of the screen 19, the fingers 95 and 92 will come into engagement with the buttons 35 and 81 at that same instant to establish an operative circuit later to be described. Similarly, operative circuits will be established through the finger 9I or 93 if the sighting tube is properly aligned with one of the targets 49 or 59 at the proper instant. The selection of the finger to enter into an operative circuit is controlled through a plurality of contacts I92, I93 and I94 carried on the tube 35, and a brush I235 (see Fig, 4) carried by a bracket I95 swung from the ring 32. So long as the tube 35 is generally aligned with the series of targets 48, the brush I05 will be in electrical engagement with the contact I92; but movement of the tube into alignment with the target series 49 will shift the contact I93 into engagement with the brush; while movement of the sighting device into alignment with the target series 5i! will shift the contact We into engagement with the brush 595.

A second motor M6 is mounted to drive a shaft I9! which, through a universal connection I91, is operatively connected to a shaft I98 carrying a gear 599 meshing with the gear 4%. It will be obvious from inspection of Fig. Zthat,

since the shaft IE3 is slidably associated with the connection IN, the gear I09 may follow the universal movements of the tube 35 without destroying the driving connection of the motor I06 with said gear.

The interior of the cabinet 26 is illuminated, at times, by suitable lights, two of which are indicated at II 9 and III. Preferably, the bulb III] will be white and the bulb I Ii will be blue, for reasons later to become apparent. Other light bulbs will be suitably disposed within the cabinet, but are not shown except in Fig. 7.

For introducing power into the organization, I have illustrated a standard plug I I2 to which are connected power leads i I3 and I I4. Much of the ,mechanisminvolved in the machine in which I have'illustrated my invention is conventional, and therefore no specific description of those conventional parts, such as the step-up relays for the scoring indicator and the shot indicator, the resetting devices, the time switches, and like mechanisms, will be given herein. The features which I consider to constitute my invention, however, will be described in detail, and casual references to the environmental conventional units may be made from time to time.

The button 29 carried by the lever 21 positioned in. cooperative relation with a switch arm I I5 which normally makes contact with a switch arm II6 but may be moved into contact with a switch arm II? by depression of the button 29. A lead II8 extends from the'switch arm H5 to one end of a solenoid coil H9 and a lead I29 extends from the other end of said coil to a switch arm I2I normally in contact With a switch arm I22 from which a lead I23 extends to one end of a transformer secondary coil I24. The opposite end of said coil I24 is connected by wire I25 with a wire I26 which leads to a wire I2'I which, in turn, is connected to switch arm I28 normally in engagement with switch arm I29. From switch arm I29 extends a wire I30 connected to a feeler finger I3I.

Said finger I3I is associated with a commutator I32 driven by motor I96; and, in the rest positionof said commutator I32, the finger I3I contacts a button I33 on said commutator or a button I34 diametrically opposed thereto. A button I35 is electrically connected to the button I33, and a button I36 is electrically connected to thebutton I34. When the finger I3I is in contact with the button I33 or the button I34 a second feeler finger I3! will be in contact with the button I35 or the button I36. From the feeler I31 leads a wire I38 connected to the switch arm II'I. Thus, depression of the switch arm II5 will energize the solenoid M9 to draw the detent arm I39 out of the notch I49 or the notch I4I in the periphery of the commutator Said detent arm cooperates with switch arms I I43, I44 and I45 in such a manner that, when said detent arm is so moved, the switch arm M3 willbe moved into electrical contact with the arm I46 and the arms I44 and I45 will respectively be moved into contact with switch arms I41 and I48. Thereby, the motor I06 is energizeed through a circuit which may be traced from power line II3 through wire I49, switch arm I 46, switch arm I43, Wire I58, motor terminal I5I, motor terminal I52, and wire I53 to power line H4. As soon as the commutator I32 begins to rotate, of course, the energizing circuit for the solenoid I I9 is broken as the but-tons I33 and I35 move away from the feeler fingers I3I and I31. 1 I

; switch arm I I6.

- I26, and wire I25 to coil I23; and the detent ing arrangement being such that one-half revolution of the commutator I32 results in one full revolution of the sleeve or mask 44.

The energizing circuit for the motor IE is maintained so long as the detent arm I33 rides the outer periphery of the commutator I32; but when the detent arm I39 drops into the notch I54 or I55, the switch arms I i-3 and I46 will be separamd and the motor I83 will be deenergized; and itwill be noted that the cycle thus will be stopped even though the player holds the button .29 depressed, since the finger I31 to which the switch arm II"! is connected is not then in con- .tact with any button on commutator I32.

If, now, the button 29 is released, the switch arm H5 will move back into contact with the When the detent arm I39 is engaged in the notch I 54 or the notch I55, buttons I56 and I51, or buttons I53 and I59, electrically connected together, will come to rest under feeler fingers I 63 and I3I "respectively.

-An energizing circuit for the solenoid coil IIG :will thus be established as follows; transformer coil I24, wire I23, switch arm I22, switch arm I2I, wire I20, coil III wire H8, switch arm H5, switch arm H6, wire I6I, feeler finger I63, button I58, button I59, feeler finger I3I, Wire I39, switch arm I29, switch arm I23, wire I21, wire I33 will thereby be withdrawn from the notch Ifit to close the switch arms I 43 and I46. motor I06 is energized to move the commutator I32; but the arm I39 will drop into the notch I4I almost immediately after the buttons I58 and I59 leave the feeler fingers I63 and I3I, thereby reopening the motor energizing circuit and leav- .ing the system in condition to be reactivated by depression of the button 29. Withdrawal of the detent arm from its notch :likewise energizes the lights 33 by closure of the switch arms I35 and I48, establishing a circuit, which may be traced from secondary transformer coil I52 through wire I63, light bulbs 43,

wire I3 3, switch arm I35, switch arm its and wire I65, back to said coil I62. Thus, the lamp bulbs 43 are illuminated only during'su'ch times,

as the detent arm is held in its outermost position, either by the coil II9 or by its engagement with the periphery of the commutator I32.

It will be remembered that rotation of the commutator I32 is accompanied by operation of the falling bomb simulating device. As the buttons I33 and I35 leave the fingers I3! and I31,

'a pair of electrically connected buttons I66 and I31 move into contact with feelers IBI and I58, thereby energizing the shots fired relay I 69 Thus the through a circuit which may be traced as follows; transformer secondary coil I13, wire I1I, wire I12, wire I13, coil I63, wire I14, finger I68, button I51, button I35, finger I3I, wire I33,

'switch arm I29, switch arm I28, wire I21, wire I25 and wire I25 back to coil 51%. The relay I69 is of well known construction, and need not be described further than to say that it actuates the indicator 23 through one step, upon each energization of the coil I69 and, after a predetermined number of such enrgizations, will open the switch I15.

As the spot of light on the screen 35 representing the lowermost bomb reaches the lowermost end of the sighting tube 36, a pairof elec- 8 i trically connected buttons I13 and I11 will come into contact with a pair of feeler fingers I18 and I19. The finger I18 is connected by wire i253 with wire'I3Il. The finger I19 is connected by a wire ISI with the terminal finger I05. If, at the instant of engagement of the buttons I13 and I1? with the fingers I18 and I13, the hand levers 21 and 23 are properly positioned, the hit relay I82 will be energized in the following manner: assuming the finger I35 to be in engagement with the contact I 32, current may flow from coilgllil through wire I83, coil I84, wire I85, finger 93, button 53, wire88, button 81, finger wire I83, contact H12, finger I05, wire IBI, finger I19, button I11, button I'iS, finger I18, wire I80, wire I36, switch arm I29, switch'arm I28, wire I21, wire I26,--and wire I25 back to the coil I10. Energization of the coil I34 not only rings bell I81 but also moves switch arm I88 into contact with switch arm I 39 and separates switch arm I93 from switch arm I9I, moving switch arm I30 into engagement with switch arm I92. Now, current may flow from transformer coil I13, through wire I1! to wire I93, and thence through coil I82, wire I34, switch arm I39, switch arm I33, wire I35, switch arm I96, switch arm I91, wire I98, and wire I25, back to coil I151, The scoring mechanism is conventional and need not be described beyond saying that it acts upon the register 24, upon each energization of the coil I82.

Obviously, the finger I35 must be in contact with the terminal I 512 when the finger 92 engages the button 8?, and, at the same instant, the fingers I18 and I19 must register with the buttons I15 and I11. It will be clear that similar circuits will be established if the finger IE5 engages the contact I03 when the finger 93 engages the button 3I; or engages the contact I04 when the finger 3E engages the button 84 at the proper instant.

Closure of the switch arms I93 and I92 likewise flashes red. lights I93. and 233 through a circuit leading from power line H3 through wire 20!, switch armIIlfi, switch arm I92, wire 202, wires 293 and 294, bulbs I39 and 235, wires 285 and 235 and wire 231, to power line II4. Separation of the switch arms I93 and I3I momentarily extinguishes light bulb Hi! and light bulb 233 or III, normally energized through circuits including said switch arms, as follows: for light bulb H8, from power line IIS through wire ZBI, switch arm I93, switch arm IQI, wire 2I3, light bulb IIEi, wire 2H, and wire 231 to power line IE4. For light bulb 239, from power line H3, through wire 25", switch arm Ifit, switch arm I9I, wire 2I2, wire 2I3, switch arm El i, switch arm 2I5, wire 2I6, wire 2I1, switch arm 2I8, switch arm 2I9, wire 228, switch arm 22I, switch arm 222, wire 223, switch arm 224, switch arm 225, wire 226, light bulb 2&9, wire 233 and wire 231 back to, power line I53. For light bulb III the circuit last traced to switch arm 224, thence through switch arm 23L wire 232, bulb III, wire 233 and wire 291 back to power line II4.

It may be here mentioned that the switch arm 224 is dominated by the button 3!} on handle 28, is normally in contact with switch arm 225, but may be moved, by depression of button 30, into engagement with switch arm 2I to extinguish the white light 239 and energize the blue light III to simulate night bombing conditions.

It is to be noted that the above described circuits energizing the lights 2539 and III, extend through the switch arms 2I4 and 2I5, which are part of the switch I15. As stated above, the switch I is opened upon the last energization of the coil I69; but obviously the lights 239 or III must be held energized during completion of the final falling bomb cycle. Therefore, I include in the switch organization dominated by the detent arm I39 the switch arms I44 and M? which, when closed, provide a circuit by-passing the switch arms H4 and 2I5 as follows: power, line II3, wire29I, switch arm I99, switch arm I9I, wire 2I9, wire 2I2, wire 2I3, switch arm I41. switch arm I44, wire 2I9, wire 2I'I, switch arm 2I8, switch arm 2I9, wire 220, switch arm22I, switch arm 222, wire 223, and switch arm 224; and thence, over the circuits just above described, through light bulbs 299 or III back to power line II4.

All of the secondary transformer coils I24, I62 and HI] are, of course, dominated by the primary coil 234, which coil is energized through a circuit which may be traced from power line II3 through wire 235, switch arm 236, switch arm 23?, wire 239, coil 234 and wire 239 back to power line II4. The switch arms 236 and 231, as well as switch arms 22I and 222 are parts of a time control mechanism which is conventional in the art and which, therefore, is not illustrated or described in detail herein. i Of course, throughout the time of play, the motor H is continuously energized through a circuit which may be traced from transformer coil I19 through wire ill, wire I12, and wire 249 to motor terminal 2M, and thence from motorterminal 222 through wire 243, switch arm 243,

switch arm 235, wire 225, wire i95, switch-arm I96, switch arm K91, wire I98 and wire I25baclr to transformer coil I29 b i The shots fired relay and the scoring relay are reset in a conventional manner when the coin slide 2| is moved to separate switch arms I22 and I29, 2I8 and 2I9, and 244 and 245, and to close switch arms 249 and 241; and the apparatus is returned to condition for further play by return of said slide to the illustrated position.

An alternative means for producing the four light spots moving downwardly along th screen 49 at different elevations is illustrated inFigs. 8 to 11 inclusive. Parts illustrated in those figures and corresponding directly to parts illustrated in Figs. 1 to 7 are indicated by the same reference numerals.

In such alternative embodiment, the sighting tube 39 has no part corresponding to the mask 34, and the light box 4-2., nclosing the four longitudinally extending windows 4|, is divided, by longitudinally extending partitions 259, 25!, and 252, into separate sections respectively registering with, and capable of supplying lightto, the four windows 4 i. A series of eight light bulbs is associated with each of said slots 2i, and the bulbs of each series are separated from each other by transverse partitions 253, 254, 255, 256, 257, 258, and 259, so that each bulb will cast light through only its individual portion of one window, the separate portions being vertically spaced from each other.

Thus, in Fig. 9, I have shown the eight bulbs of one series, respectively indicated by the reference numerals can, 43:12, 43a3, 43a4, 43a5, 43116, 43:17, Matt, while in Fig. 101 have illustrated one bulb of each series, indicatingthem by the reference numerals 43cm, 43b4, 4304, and 43114. The entire assembly of bulbs is; schematically, indicated in the diagram of Fig. 8. j i 1 l- Mounted upon theabracket supporting the motor I09, and electrically insulated therefrom, is a fixed commutator 239 provided with a series of peripherally spaced contactor buttons 26%|, 262, 263, 234, 265, 263, 261, 238, 269, 219, and 2'II; and the shaft 289, through which the motor drives the commutator E32, drives also a brush having contactor fingers 28! and 282 at its opposite ends.

It will be remembered that the commutator I32males only one-half revolution during a bomb dropping cycle of the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 to '7. Similarly, in the present embodiment, said commutator, and therefore the brush with itsfingers 235 and 282, must make only onehalf revolution during a bomb dropping cycle. Thus, during one-half revolution of the shaft 280, the brush finger 285 will sweep the contacts 231 to 2'! i, inclusive; and during the next half revolution, the finger 232 will sweep said contacts.

As illustrated, the wire I (which leads from one end of the transformer coil I62) will be electrically connected to the brush with its fingers 28I and 282. This may be done, for instance, by permitting said shaft 282 to be electrically in contact with the motor base and with the brush, and by connecting the wir I65 to said motor base, as shown in Fig. 11. The wire I63 leads to the opposite end of said transformer coil I52.

Button 723i is connected, by wire 283, with one side of bulb leai, and the other, side of said bulb is connected by wire 224 with wire I63. Thus, when brush finger 28I or 232 contacts button 26I, bulb cam will be energized.

Wire 285 connects button 232 with one side of bulb 43M, the other side of which is connected to wire 284, and so to wire I63. A branch wire 289 leads from wire 285 to one side of bulb 43a2, the other side of which is connected by wire 286 with wire 23'? which, in turn, is connected. to wire 294. Thus, when brush 29I leaves button 26I and contacts button 292, bulb 43aI will be extinguished and bulbs 43bI and 43a2 will be energized through parallel circuits.

Wire 288 leads from button 263 to bulb 43cI which is connected to wire 2 34. Branch wire 289 leads from wire 238 to oneside of bulb 43b2, the other side of which is connected by wire 235 to wire 28?. Branch wire29il eads from Mm 289 to one side of bulb 33 is connected by wire 2% brush 28! engages cord; and 43a3 will be energize are extinguished. i i

Wire 292 connects button 264 with one side of bulb 430, the other side of which is connected to wire 234. Branch wire 293 connects wire 292 with one side of bulb 4302, the other side of which is connected to wire 2%. Branch wire 2534 connects wire 29s with one side of bulb 43b3, the other side of which is connected to wire 29I. Branch wire 295 connects wire 293 with one side of bulb 43a4, the other side of which is connected, by wire 299, to wire 28?. Thus, when brush 28I contacts button 262, bulbs 2311i, 4302, 43bit and 43114 will be energized, while all other bulbs will be deenergized.

Button 265*is connected, by wire 291, with one side of bulb 43512, the. other side of which is con-, nected to wire 28%; Branch wire 298 leads from wire, 29? to one side of bulb 4303, the other side of which is connected to wire 29!. Branch wire 299 leads from branch wire 293 to one side of bulb 43122 whose other side is connected to wire 296;. and branch wire 399.connects' one side of bulb 43a5 with wire 299, while the other side of said bulb is connected by wire 30E with wire 28?.

bulb 43m, 4302, ile all other bulbs 11 Thus, when brush 28! engages button 265, bulbs 43d2, 4303, $3124 and 4M5 will be energized while all other bulbs are extinguished.

Button 266 controls bulbs 43033, 4304, 53125 and 43a6 through wires 302, 303, 30 i, 305 and 396. Similarly button 261 controls buttons 43:14, 4305, 43196 and 33a? through Wires 307, 303, 309, 3H] and 3H. Bulbs 43(15, 4306, 43b1, 43CL8 are controlled by button 268 through wires 3l2, 3 l3, 3M, 3l5, and M6.

The parts are so synchronized that, when bulb 43a8 is illuminated, a score will be registered in case the parts are in proper relative positions.

As the brush 28i continues to move to button 269, only the three bulbs isdfi, 307, and 43218 Will be energized, since the fall of the bomb represented by the a series has been completed. The last mentioned three bulbs are illuminated through wires 3H, M8 and 319. Button 2 H} is connected by wire 320 with one side of bulb 43d! the other side of which is connected to Wire 3| I; and branch wire 32! connects wire 320 with bulb 4308, the other side of which is connected to wire ME. The last button, 275, energizes only bulb 43118 through wire 322 to wire 316. Hits will be scored as each of bulbs 23123, @303 and 43613 is illuminated, provided the parts are held in proper relationship at such instant.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a bombing game, a sighting device comprising a housing visually open at opposite ends, a portion of the internal wall of said housing visible through one end of said housing comprising a translucent screen, a light source outside said screen, means interposed between said screen and said light source and defining a plurality of light-permeable areas extending in the direction of a line drawn between said housing ends and separated by opaque areas, cycling means associated with said light source and operable to eilect an apparent movement of a light image from said source, falling upon said screen, progressively from that end of said light-permeable areas nearer one end of said housing toward that end of said light-permeable areas nearer the other end of said housing, and manuallymanipulable means for initiating the operation of said cycling means.

2. In a bombing game, a sighting device comprising an elongated housing visually open at opposite ends, one end of said housing being visually accessible to a player, mean including a light source outside said housing and an opening in said housing elongated axially of said housing for producing within said housing a visual simulation of a falling projectile moving from a point nearer said one end to a point more remote from said one end, and manuallymanipulable means accessible to such player for initiatin operation of said means.

3. In a bombing game, a sighting device comprising an elongated housing visually open at opposite ends, a portion of the internal Wall of said housing visible through one end of said housing comprising a translucent screen, a plurality of series of lights located outside said housing but adjacent thereto, each series of lights extending longitudinally of said housing and being perimetrally spaced from each other series of lights, means for confining the light shed from each series to a predetermined area of said screen perimetrally spaced from the area illuminated by each other series, and cycling means for successively energizing the lights of each series.

4. In a bombing game, a sighting device comprising an elongated housing visually open at opposite ends, a portion of the internal wall of said housing visible through one end of said housing comprising a translucent screen, a plurality of series of lights located outside said housing but adjacent thereto, each series of lights extendin longitudinally of said housing and being perimetrally spaced from each other series of lights, means for confining the light shed from each series to a predetermined area of said screen perimetrally spaced from the area illuminated by each other series, cycling means for successively energizing the lights of each series, and manuallynianipulable means accessible to a player for initiating operation of said cycling means.

5. In a bombing game, a sighting device comprising an elongated housing visually open at opposite ends, a portion of the internal wall of said housing visible through one end of said housing comprising a translucent screen, a plurality of series of lights located outside said housing but adjacent thereto, each series of lights extending longitudinally of said housing and being perimetrally spaced from each other series of lights, means for confining the light shed from each series to a predetermined area of said screen perimetrally spaced from the area illuminated by each other series, and cycling means for energizing said lights, that light of each series nearest said one end of said housing being energized first, and the further lights of each series being energized in order progressively farther and farther from said one end, each light being extinguished as the next succeeding light is energized.

6. In a bombing game, a sighting device comprising an elongated housing visually open at opposite ends, a portion of the internal wall of said housing visible through one end of said housing comprising a translucent screen, a plurality of series of lights located outside said housing but adjacent thereto, each series of lights extending longitudinally of said housing and being perimetrally spaced from each other series of lights, means for confining the light shed from each series to a predetermined area of said screen perimetrally spaced from the area illuminated by each other series, and cycling means for energizing said lights, that light of one series nearest said one end of said housing being energized first, then the light of said one series next removed from said one end and the light of the next adjacent series nearest said one end being energized while said first-named light is extinguished and so on until each light of each series has been energized and then extinguished.

'7. In a bombing game, a sighting device comprising a tubular housing visually open at its opposite ends, a portion of the internal wall of said housing visible through one end of said housing comprising a translucent screen, a light source outside said screen, means interposed between said light source and said screen and defining a plurality of light-permeable, longitudinally extending areas separated by opaque areas, an opaque mask telescopically associated with said housing between said light source and said screen for rotation about the axis of said housing, said mask being provided with a narrow translucent area extending spirally thereabout and having a longitudinal extent corresponding to the longitudinal extent of said light-permeable areas, and means for rotating said mask.

8. In a bombing game, a sighting device comprisin a tubular housing visually open at its opposite ends, a portion of the internal wall of said housin visible through one end of said housing comprising a translucent screen, a light source outside said screen, means interposed between said light source and said screen and defining a plurality of light-permeable, longitudinally extending areas separated by opaque areas, an opaque mask telescopically associated with said housing between said light source and said screen for rotation about the axis of said housing, said mask being provided with a narrow translucent area extending spirally thereabout and having a longitudinal extent corresponding to the longitudinal extent of said light-permeable areas, and cycling means operable, when activated, to turn said mask through one complete rotation and then automatically to discontinue rotation of said mask.

9. In a bombing game, a sighting device comprising a tubular housing visually open at its opposite ends, a portion of the internal wall of said housing visible through one end of said housing comprising a translucent screen, a light source outside said screen, means interposed between said light source and said screen and defining a plurality of light-permeable, longitudinally extending areas separated by opaque areas, an opaque mask telescopically associated with said housing between said light source and said screen for rotation about the axis of said housing, said mask being provided with a narrow translucent area extending spirally thereabout and having a longitudinal extent corresponding to the longitudinal extent of said light-permeable areas, and manually-manipulable means under the control of a player for causing rotation of said mask.

10. In combination with a sighting device, means mounting said sighting device for universal rocking movement about a point in its length, a manually-manipulable lever mounted adjacent said sighting device for rocking movement in a single plane, linkage mechanism connecting said lever to swing said sighting device substantially in a plane parallel with said first-named plane,

a second manually-manipulable lever mounted adjacent said sighting device for rocking move ment in a single plane substantially parallel with said first-named plane, and linkage mechanism connecting said second lever to swing said sighting device substantially in a plane perpendicular to said first-named plane, a moving target device positioned to be viewed through said sighting device, a plurality of targets on said target device, a commutator movin with said target device and carrying a pair of electrically connected contacts for each target, a ieeler positioned adjacent said commutator and carrying contactors adapted, upon proper registry with said commutator, to engage a selected pair of commutator contacts, and means connecting one of said manually-manipulable levers to shift said feeler relative to said commutator.

11. In a device of the class described a substantially closed cabinet, a sighting device having a portion disposed within said cabinet and providing substantially the sole means of viewing the interior of the cabinet, a target device within the cabinet and visible through said sighting device, a pair of spaced handles projecting from the cabinet adjacent said sighting device and operable dependently to shift the portion of said sighting device within said cabinet substantially universally, means for producing, within the region visible to an observer looking through the sighting device, a simulation of the flight of a missile, means carried by one of said handles for activating said last-named means, a source of illumination within said cabinet simulating, when energized, daylight flight conditions, a second source of illumination within said cabinet simulating, when energized, night flight conditions, and means carried by the other of said handles for selectively energizing either of said sources of illumination.

12. In a coin-controlled game device, a cabinet, a sighting device movably mounted in said cabinet, two levers pivotally mounted on said cabinet and having portion located outside said cabinet and accessible to a player, motion-transmitting means connecting one of said levers to shift said sighting device, motion-transmitting means: differently connecting the other of said levers to shift said sighting device, at least one of said motion-transmitting means including directionchanging means, said levers being operable separately or conjointly by a player to move said sighting device substantially universally within a predetermined range, said sighting device being wholly enclosed, and transparent means associated with said cabinet through which a player may peer into said sighting device in any position of said sighting device within such range.

13. In a game device, a cabinet having a top wall, a sighting device movably mounted within said cabinet and projecting through said top wall, two levers projecting through said top wall and having portions within said cabinet and other portions accessible to a player, means opera'tively connecting said levers to said sighting device to move the same within a predetermined range, said means connecting one of said levers to said sighting device including direction-changing means, and a housing associated with said cabinet top wall and enclosing the projecting portion of said sighting device to render the same physically inaccessible to a player, said housing being provided with a transparent section through which the projecting portion of said sighting device is continuously visually accessible to a player throughout its range of movement.

l FRANK J. BULA.

REFERENCES CETFED The .Ecliowing references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,897,282 Steinle Feb. 14, 1933 2,212,257 New Aug. 20, 1940 2,269,418 New Jan. 6, 1942 2,291,575 Fuchs July 2B, 1942 2,303,132 New Oct. 27, 1942 

